Art theft suspect ‘f lees UK on one-way ticket’

AN ALLEGED art thief said to be involved in taking paintings and jewellery from a mansion owned by members of the Bulmer’s cider family has fled the UK on a “one-way ticket”, a court has heard.

During the raid at the home of Esmond and Susie Bulmer, the couple’s housekeeper was tied to banisters as thieves made off with £1.7 million of paintings and £1million of antique jewellery. The art collector and his family made £84million when they sold their stake in the family’s Hereford-based cider-making business.

Despite the thefts happening in 2009, 11 men from the London and West Midlands areas have now appeared in court and have denied the allegations.

The Crown Prosecution Service has issued a warrant for a 12th man, John Morris, 56, of Enfield, London, who failed to attend court after police said he had left the country. He is accused of conspiring to receive stolen goods.

Ben Samples, prosecuting, told the court: “The police tell me that he bought a one-way ticket out of the UK and left on July 16. Our application would be for a warrant without bail.”

A total of 15 paintings were stolen, and all have been recovered, except for Sir John Lavery’s After Glow Taplow.